Breaking Ties: An Ensemble Story (Read 248,004 times)

[Kpatch]

I figured Marlena would need mlre testing.

Sydney needs to escalate the bullying issue to the camp's authorities.

Thanks for the previews.

[André DiMera]

Wonder why everyone can’t leave the safe house yet.

Hopefully Sydney can do something about the bullying. Wonder what’s going on with Marlena.

I’m hoping this colleague is Judge Walston. Can’t wait for Emily’s talk with Josh. Wonder what J.J. and Paige’s idea is.

Thanks for the previews, heroicmuse!

[heroicmuse]

Week 508 - 1
Andrew had met with Rubin in an undisclosed location.

“I can’t really go into specifics,” Rubin said, sipping her coffee. “I will say the case is going well, from my perspective. It seems Natalie Simmons is digging a constantly expanding hole for herself.”

“All I need to know is whether it’s safe for my charges to come home,” Andrew said. “From where I sit, it should be. Hannah and Chanel have both already testified, so all we need is the all-clear from you.”

Rubin hesitated. “Natalie Simmons is currently being held at Salem City Jail,” she said, and when court is on a break she gets to go home to a holding cell the size of my closet.”

“So is that a yes?” Andrew asked.

“It’s a maybe. For one thing, I want to see what happens at Salem City Jail. Something tells me that Ms. Simmons isn’t entirely out of tricks yet. And for another…” Rubin took another sip. “I need to talk to Kenneth Hansen and see if he wants to testify. I don’t think I absolutely need him, but he was kidnapped by Ms. Simmons and her brother, so if he’s willing to paint a picture for the jury of the nightmare he went through at both their hands before I have Abe Carver testify about what led him to arrest Natalie, it couldn’t hurt.”


Sydney sighed as she listened to what Izzy and Charley had to tell her. “I’m going to have to bring this to the full conselors,” she said. She held up her hand. “Don’t worry. Neither of you guys is in trouble. But what you’re telling me is a really serious offense, like serious enough the girl who did it could get kicked out and never allowed to return.”

“Good,” Izzy said. “You don’t have to tell my parents, do you?”

“I don’t think so, but I don’t know what my bosses are going to say,” Sydney said. “But don’t you think your parents will want to support you?”

Izzy shook her head. “They’re too overprotective. They’ll yank me out of camp, and I don’t wanna.”

Sydney shook her head sadly. “You guys are only here for two more weeks,” she said, “and then you have to go home and back to school. I’m sure you can stick it out.”

“Me too,” Izzy said, “but good luck convincing my parents.”

“They won’t know,” Charley said, “cause I won’t tell them and neither will Sydney.”

Izzy nodded, but her eyes were wide and she was staring into space. Charley put her arm around her.


“As I’m sure you know,” Kayla said to Marlena, “there are many reasons you might have low iron and vitamin B12, so I don’t want to jump to any conclusions here. The first thing I want to know is what your diet is like.”

“It’s the same as it always has been,” Marlena said. “I eat a mix of salads, fruits, vegetables, meat… I will admit, I eat out more than I eat at home. It’s become a ritual for John and I, meeting at the Brady Pub after a long day to have some together time.”

“Of course,” Kayla said. “Eating out isn’t inherently unhealthy, if you’re careful. It is easier to control what goes into your body at home, but if you’re mostly eating salads and protein, that sounds like a reasonable diet. It’s not as if you’re surviving on junk food, chips and cookies and greasy burgers.”

“No, nothing like that,” Marlena said.

Kayla nodded. “Your hemoglobin levels look good even though your iron is low, so we can rule out anemia for the time being.”

“Right,” Marlena said. “So what’s left?”

“There could be a lot of causes. For one thing, if you’ve developed celiac disease, then your stomach’s inability to digest gluten ould interfere with your absorption of vitamin B12. Now, type 1 diabetes can also cause similar symptoms, but your A1C is only slightly elevated, nowhere near the diabetic range as of right now, and low iron can affect blood glucose levels as well, aso I doubt that is the case. You haven’t eaten any suspicious sushi recently, have you?”

“I haven’t eaten sushi at all, suspicious or otherwise. It’s not my thing, as the kids say.”

“Good. Then we don’t have to test you for tapeworms.” Kayla marked something in Marlena’s chart. “So the next thing we want to do is test for celiac disease.”

“And if it’s not that?”

“We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it. I’m going to have Maxine take some more blood so we can test for celiac, and if the markers are there we will schedule a biopsy of the small intestine.”

Marlena did her best to hide how squeamish she was about that idea. Even if I have to do that, it’s still better than dementia, she thought.

[Kpatch]

Charley is so sweet. Sydney is doing the right thing. I hope Parker is having a better experience. He should check on his baby sister.

I didn't know a biopsy helps test for celiac disease. Now I'm thinking it may be even more serious.

[André DiMera]

Ah, so that’s why they can’t leave the safe house just yet.

So glad Sydney’s going to be telling her bosses about what that kid was doing.

I hadn’t even thought of Celiac disease! If that’s what it is, it’ll mean a slight lifestyle adjustment, but it’s better than dementia.

Great chapter, heroicmuse!

[heroicmuse]

Week 508 - 2
Judge Hildebrand had met Judge Walston for dinner at Penthouse Grill.

“Thanks for meeting me,” she said. “I know we don’t always see eye to eye, but there is no judge whose opinion I respect more.”

“I’m flattered, I think,” Judge Walston said, “though I would be more so if this were purely a social call. I have always enjoyed your company.” He smiled slightly.

Judge Hildebrand’s cheeks got slightly pink. “Now I’m flattered.” She sighed. “But I suppose we should talk business.”

“No reason we can’t do it over a bottle of wine and a good steak,” Judge Walston said, “or whatever it is you plan to order.”

Judge Hildebrand put her reading glasses on and looked over the menu. “Crab over angel hair pasta with fettuccine sauce for me,” she said.

“I think I shall stick with my original idea of a ribeye steak,” Judge Walston said, closing his menu. He beckoned the waiter over and they placed their orders as well as a bottle of Pinot Gringo to share.

“Now,” Judge Walston said, “what was it you wanted to pick my brains about, so to speak?”

Judge Hildebrand sighed. “I’ll speak in hypotheticals,” she said, “not only because it is the right thing to do, but because the defendant in this case never met an attempt to disrupt the proceedings she didn’t think was a good idea, and I do not want to give her ammunition.” She looked over her shoulder, lowering her voice. “Call me paranoid, but I keep expecting to catch a photographer attempting to give her blackmail material.”

“Blackmail is impossible when we have done nothing wrong,” Judge Walston said, “but anyway, I think I know which defendant you are talking about but will pretend I don’t. I suppose this hypothetical defendant is a gang leader who is used to throwing her weight around?”

“You could say that.” Judge Hildebrand sighed. “It is her lawyer I am worried about. He has not appeared before me often enough for me to tell whether he is simply incompetent or being coerced into behavior that would make a first-year law student hang their head in shame, but I suspect the latter.”

“I see.” Judge Walston frowned. “And you are wondering what to do about it, is that it?”

Judge Hildebrand nodded. “I can’t tell him directly to drop his client, of course. That would be the type of ex parte communication that gets the case thrown out on appeal. But I did call him into my chambers and tell him that if, hypothetically, he decided this case was not worth the risk he is taking, I would not oppose a motion to withdraw.”

Judge Walston nodded. “Knowing you as I do, I am sure you couched these comments in enough hypotheticals to ensure they could not come back to harm you.”

“Unless the blackmailer that Natalie… um, that this defendant would love to hire manages to record this conversation.”

The waiter came with the wine just then. Judge Walston said, “My companion will do the honors.”

Judge Hildebrand’s cheeks got pink again. She doubted she knew enough about wine to sample it, but when the waiter poured a tiny bit into her glass, she tasted it and was sure to smile and say, “It’s excellent, thank you.”

The waiter poured a full glass for each of them and went away. Judge Hildebrand whispered, “I had no idea how to judge the quality of the wine.”

“Nor do I,” Judge Walston said. “I am not as well versed in matters of white grapes as I am the law.” THey both laughed and then he said, “In terms of the business we were discussing, I don’t think you can do anything more than you have done. If this attorney persists in m aking a mockery out of your courtroom, you will have to sanction him.”

“I’m aware,” Judge Hildebrand said. “I’m hoping it doesn’t come to that but I’m not hopeful.” She sighed. “It bothers me on a personal level, which I know cannot be a factor in any decisions I make regarding this case.”

“That does not mean you are expected to have no emotions. You areo nly human, after all.”

“I know. I… feel sorry for this lawyer even though I also feel that he made his own bed. I believe he is being abused by his client and if there was a way I could force him to withdraw…”

“You would take it in a heartbeat.” Judge Walston sipped his wine. “Alas, there is no such provision in the law.”

“I am aware.”

Judge Walston sighed. “There is nothing wrong with being compassionate. It is something I like to see in my fellow judges. As long as you do not allow it to interfere with your professional judgment, it is a good quality to have.”

“Right.” Judge Hildebrand sighed again. “I was not so compassionate a few years ago when I sentenced Hannah Martin to that extremely restrictive probation. I honestly believed she was simply unhappy with the reality of her jail sentence once it began and wanted to undo her plea bargain for no good reason. But she had reason to testify recently in my courtroom, and after hearing what she had been through, I do not think I was anything resembling fair.”

“I am sure you did the best you could with limited information,” Judge Walston said, “and I am equally sure that she does not hold it against you nearly as much as you hold it against yourself.”

“I suppose that’s true.”

“It is.” Judge Walston raised his glass. “Now let us dispense with any more shop talk for the moment and toast to this rare occasion on which we have the opportunity to dine together.”

Judge Hildebrand smiled to herself as she lifted her glass. Her heart was beating slightly fast and she had butterflies in her stomach.

What is wrong with me? She thought. Judge Walston is nothing but a mentor. That’s all he ever can be.



Dani paced back and forth in her room. “Should I call the police?” she said to herself. “They could be at the prison longer. They won’t have their phones there.” She sighed deeply. “Good thing I stayed behind. I don’t think I could have handled setting foot in a prison. That weekend I spent in Salem City Jail waiting for my arraignment was bad enough.” She shuddered.

Her phone buzzed, making her flinch.

She glanced at it.

Text from Alison
My brother only let Emily see him! Not me! What’s up with that?

Dani stared at the phone, trying to think of what to say to help Alison feel better.

[André DiMera]

Sounds like Hildebrand has a crush on Judge Walston. Glad she told him as much as she could.

Wonder what Dani will say.

Great chapter, heroicmuse!

[heroicmuse]

Week 508 - 4
“Nothing major,” Paige said, showing JJ the puzzle. “I just got her some educational toys, that’s all.” She frowned. “You don’t think I’m pushing her too hard, do you?”

“Nah,” JJ said. “It reminds me of my mom. From as far back as I can remember, she tried to get as much reading and books into me as she could. She’d get mad when I would flip pages or use the letters as toy soldiers, so do me a favor and don’t flip out if Mari doesn’t play the right way, but otherwise I’m fine with it.”

“Seems your mum wasn’t prepared for how boys are,” Harlow said.

“At least not ones with ADHD,” JJ said. “Anyway, I’d be a hypocrite if I got mad over that puzzle cause…” He opened the bag he was holding and showed Paige that he’d gotten a similar one, only with colored musical notes and their labels.

Paige giggled. “Looks like you’re gonna have a lot of fun things to play with,” she said to Mariposa. “These are puzzles. Mommy and Daddy will take the plastic off them and then we’ll show you how to play with them.”

Mari clapped her hands and giggled.


Snake frowned. “Why should I tell you anything?” he said, staring at Trask. “You got something in it for me, like I dunno, maybe me gettin’ out of here before I’m old and gray?”

Trask crossed her arms. “I’m not actually authorized to make those kinds of deals, but I will talk to the DA if you cooperate.”

“Wow,” Snake said. “Never thought that mousy little girl had it in her to cause enough trouble you’d be willing to push someone like me to go snitch just to nail her ass.” He laughed. “So. Tell me what it is you want to get her for and I’ll back you up.”

“It doesn’t work that way. I can’t give you a fill in the blank statement. But how about I ask you some questions and you tell me the truth, all right? And if what you tell me results in that girl going to jail like she so richly deserves, I’ll see what I can do about getting you some sort of lighter sentence.”

“Maybe,” Snake said. “How do I know you’re not gonna leave me high and dry once you get what you want? Those other cops tried it, you know, telling me I’d rot in jail if I didn’t snitch on Nat Simmons. Problem is, I value my life, so I wasn’t about to tell on nobody. And you’d have to be offering me something real special for me to go back on that, cause as much as I blame that bitch for me getting locked up, she ain’t worth me getting a target on my back.”

“You’re afraid of getting shivved in your sleep. I get it, I really do, but you don’t have anything to worry about this time. Look, Daniela Olsen is small potatoes. She’s not a gang member and she sure as hell isn’t in any position of power. So you know who will care if you tell on her? Literally nobody. You’ll get your revenge and your freedom and she’ll spend the time behind bars she escaped twice. I’d call that a double win, wouldn’t you?”

“Twice? She spent a night behind bars over that fake ID, didn’t she?”

“One night. Is that all she should get for all the trouble she’s caused you?”

Snake stared at the Fire Lion tattoo on his arm. “If I wanted her taken care of, I’d make some calls. Jail wouldn’t stop me from doing what I wanted to a little bitch who’s missing some karma. But I decided to let it go.”

“Why?”

“Like you said, she’s small potatoes. Besides, Fire Lions gotta watch themselves right now, with the sham trial against Mama Lionness in progress. They’ll pin anything on her, and she’ll turn around and give the order to teach whoever messed things up a lesson. So that ain’t gonna be me.”

“So let me get this straight,” Trask said. “You’re willing to sit in jail yourself rather than put some loser who screwed you over there because of the slim-to-none chance that it affects a trial that has nothing to do with you?”

“I’m doing what I gotta do,” Snake said. “Goodbye.” He stood and put his hands behind his back, waiting for the guard. “I don’t know what the bitch did to you, but if you can’t do something about it yourself, let it go.”

Trask scowled.“There isn’t any bone you can throw me?”

“Only that she likes her drink a little too much. But I bet you knew that already.”

A guard came over. “Time’s up,” he said. He grabbed Snake by the arm and walked him off.

Trask glared at nothing, wondering what her next move was.

[Kpatch]

Great gifts for Mari. I want to play too.

[André DiMera]

Cute that J.J. and Paige had almost the same idea.

I’m glad Trask didn’t get any help from Snake.

Great chapter, heroicmuse!

[heroicmuse]

Alison sat under a big sign that said NO CELL PHONES BEYOND THIS POINT, grateful she was at least able to use her phone in this area of the prison. She stared at the phone, wishing Dani would respond to her. But what did she expect Dani to say? She was barely more than a teenager, and anyway she hadn’t had the experience of having a brother locked up.

Her phone buzzed. A guard looked up from the desk and said, “Put that on silent, please.”

“Sorry,” Alison said. She turned the volume all the way down and looked at her message, her eyes widening.


Meanwhile, Emily ahd been taken to the visitor room, which was set up like a cafeteria, with small tables everyplace where prisoners could visit with their guests. THere were signs on the wall warning that visits were limited to 20 minutes and that visitors were subject to search, and there was even a sign above a vending machine in the corner saying it was for visitor use only and that visitors could not share food with prisoners.

I’m glad I’ve never been to jail, Emily thought as she sat down at the table the guard gestured for her to sit at. She put her hands on top of the table, instinctively realizing the guards needed to see them, and clasped them in front of her. A side door opened and another guard brought Josh in. He was not handcuffed, but nevertheless, his appearance was shocking to Emily after all these years. She remembered a tall, handsome athlete that she’d secretly had a crush on while watching him on the soccer field. This Josh was still tall, but he moved very slowly, like he was exhausted, like he was old before his time.

“You can give him a brief hug hello and another one goodbye, Miss,” the guard said, “but otherwise no touching, and if you want to give him something, give it to me to inspect first and if approved, I will hand it to him.”

“I understand,” Emily said, pushing her hair behind her ear nervously.

“I think we can forego the hugs,” Josh said. “I don’t want… not this way.” He sank into his seat.

“Be on your best behavior if you want more visits after this,” the guard said. He moved off into the corner, watching and listening.

“So,” Josh said. “Um, you look great, Em.”

“Thanks.” Emily fidgeted with her hair. “I guess I should come out and say it. Alison was super upset you wouldn’t see her. Why wouldn’t you?”

Josh’s mouth dropped open. “She’s here? No one told me that, they just told me that you wanted to see me.”

Emily crossed her arms. “Alison came with me and a guard told me you didn’t want to see her, just me. But if that’s changed, maybe the guards’ll let her come in now. I could ask.”

But Josh shook his head. “I don’t know what the mixup is. Maybe when I was first locked up and wasn’t thinking straight, I didn’t put her on the list. But whatever. It’s better this way, honestly.”

Emily frowned. “Why would you say that?”

“Cause she’s my baby sister,” Josh said, “a-and for her to see me like this…”

“She’s not ashamed of you, though.”

“Isn’t she? I mean, it’s been years since any of the family came except Mom, so I figured.”

“You figured wrong. She’s fighting for you, she came today cause she’s convinced that you’re innocent and she wanted to talk to you about the night you were arrested. Is she right? Are you innocent?”

Josh shrugged. “Doesn’t matter. Innocent or not, I’m locked up here for 25 years at least and that’s not changing. Just gotta keep my head down and get through every day alive cause nothing can erase the fact I was convicted by a jury of my peers on an open and shut case.”


“That’s not true.” Emily leaned forward. “Josh, the tox screen’s missing from your arrest report. Alison was kind of wondering if there’s anything you could tell us that could help us find out what the hell really happened that night so we can get you out of here.”

Josh stiffened. “I can’t tell you anything because I don’t remember anything. It’s like I told the cops, I woke up on the median behind the driver’s seat, so I must have driven there.”

“Maybe. Or maybe you were drugged.” Emily leaned forward. “What’s the last thing you remember before waking up on the median?”

Josh squinted, trying to remember. It was fuzzy… a bar of some sort… a woman with long dark hair…

He shook his head. “Can’t help you, sorry.” He lowered his voice and added, “Stop asking questions. It’ll only get me killed.”

Emily frowned, wondering what that meant.

[krw627]

So somebody has threatened Josh to keep quiet; but, he remembers someone who could fit Sloane's description.

[André DiMera]

Wonder what the message Alison got is!

Well, the fact that Josh didn't know it was more than just Emily that wanted to see him is a surprise. It definitely sounds like someone's threatening him to keep something quiet.

Great chapter, heroicmuse!

[heroicmuse]

Week 508 - 5
Rafe opened his front door to find Kate standing on the other side. “Kate,” he said. “Um, hi.”

Kate pushed past him and closed the door. “I don’t have time for social niceties, unfortunately. We need to talk.”

Rafe crossed his arms. “Glad you at least closed the door first. You realize we can’t be seen together? Kate, at that hearing I just went through, one of the things they’re holding against me’s that we met several times after the shooting. It’s circumstantial, but if they see us hanging out again they can argue we’re still trying to cover stuff up.”

“That is exactly why I’m here,” Kate said. “Justin came to see me. I don’t know why you keep insisting on letting that worthless has-been represent you when I could get you the best lawyers money could buy but — “

“Justin knows what he’s doing,” Rafe said, his voice even, “and I’d rather someone like him who’s as honest as the day is long than someone who’s gonna play the kind of dirty tricks Natalie Simmons’ lawyer is and get the judge all excited about throwin’ the book at them.”

“I’ve been watching that case on the news too. Jimmy Saxon is a disgrace, I would never hire someone that incompetent. When I say the best lawyer money can buy, I mean one who actually knows how to work the system in our favor.”

Rafe rolled his eyes. “Is that all you came to say? Cause I’m stickin’ with Justin so if it is, then, adios.”

“That’s no way to treat your best friend,” Kate said.

“Best friend? You got me into this mess, shooting at suspects instead of letting us do our jobs.”

“Excuse me, but was I supposed to stand there and let the disguisting pervert who assaulted my grandson vanish into the good night, not to be seen until he’d hurt some other poor child? I deserved a medal for bringing him down. And if I’d wanted to kill him, believe me, he’d be dead. Besides, you didn’t have to let me go. I’d have gladly taken the stand and told the world why I did what I did and no jury in the world would have convicted me, and your hands would have been clean. So if you have regrets now…”

“I don’t.” Rafe let his breath out slowly. “Hell, I don’t even know what we’re fighting about. I let you go not just cause I give a damn about you, but cause I don’t think the FBI needs to be arresting grandmothers who are trying to stop pedophiles from messing with their grandchildren.”

“So we’re agreed there,” Kate said.

“Yeah,” Rafe agreed. “But I still am not sure why you’re here.”

“Justin,” Kate said, “told me that there’s a possibility that a warrant will be issued for my arrest. Now, I’m not afraid to stand trial. As I said, I know I’m in the right here. But I’ll be damned if they use me as a weapon to get you locked up for doing the right thing. So we need to talk about what we can do to get you out of this.”

“I take it you have some ideas,” Rafe said.

“Is this the first time we’ve met? Of course I do.”

“And I also am guessing here that what you want to do is not quite legal.”

Kate shrugged. “Sometimes you have to fight fire with fire.”

“All right then,” Rafe said. “Let’s have it. What harebrained scheme have you come up with?”


The two judges waited together outside the Penthouse Grill for their cars. The valet pulled up in Judge Hildebrand’s car too.

“I thank you for a lovely evening,” she said to Judge Walston. “And for the benefit of your wisdom.”

Judge Walston smiled slightly. He patted the top of her hand and said, “I always enjoy good company and intelligent conversation, especially with someone who makes me feel 20 years younger while respecting my, as you say, wisdom.”

Judge Hildebrand blushed slightly as he dropped her hand. “I’ll let you know what happens in court,” she said weakly as she got into her car.

Judge Walston watched her drive away, smiling to himself.

As Judge Hildebrand pulled out of the lot, she couldn’t stop thinking about the way Judge Walston smiled or how good it had felt when he touched her hand briefly.

“Stop it,” she said to herself. “I am quite certain the ethical code forbids two judges in the same jurisdiction dating, and besides, he’s 20 years older than you.”

She hit her turn signal hard and waited to be able to safely pull out of the lot.

[Kpatch]

Kate is not being helpful at all. Coming by in the first place was not smart.